Share-Net International

Share-Net International, the name of the Knowledge Platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) aims to contribute to the SRHR agenda by improving knowledge in this area. The key vision of the agenda is that people should be able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the freedom to decide how many children they want and with whom, and access to good-quality care to meet their sexual and reproductive health needs.

Share-Net International combines the expertise and strengths of Dutch organisations, Southern partners and key international actors working in the area of SRHR to achieve the SRHR and HIV related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Share-Net Netherlands is the Dutch network on SRHR and HIV and has been in operation since 2000. Share-Net Netherlands, within the Knowledge Platform, functions as the Dutch country node: sharing and disseminating knowledge and information, and as the national network. Relevant Dutch knowledge partners who are members of Share-Net Netherlands automatically became a member of Share-Net International.

In addition, the Platform encompasses national knowledge networks in three countries: Bangladesh, Burundi, Jordan. These networks serve as conduits for situation assessments, defining research priorities, facilitating research participation by country institutions and hosting the local knowledge base/platform. They also stimulate the participation of key international partners and regional and national actors in SRHR, based in their countries.

A Steering Committee is in charge of providing substantive direction to Share-Net International and its secretariat.

Vision

Share-Net International envisions a world in which all people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the freedom to decide how many children they want and with whom, and access to good-quality care to meet their sexual and reproductive health needs.

Objectives

Share-Net International aims to share existing knowledge, generate new knowledge to address prioritized research gaps , and translate knowledge into formats appropriate for intended audiences so as to contribute to the development of better policy and practice.

Focus

The Platform’s focus is on strengthening the role knowledge can play in developing evidence-based policies and practices and ensuring that resources are used strategically and to maximum effect, among others in relation to the four core areas of Dutch policy on SRHR:

Better information and greater freedom of choice for young people about their sexuality

Greater respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of groups who are currently denied these rights.

What Share-Net does

In each priority country a needs assessment and mapping exercise took place to identify the key SRHR themes on which to focus the work of the Knowledge platform. This exercise also guided the selection of the organisations to host each country knowledge node. Research priorities were then identified and developed and calls made through NWO/WOTRO. The node in each country is supported by Share-Net International to ensure these messages and improvements are communicated effectively to policy makers, providers of services and other stakeholders.

Website

The central website (www.share-netinternational.org) is the focus for the online community. Registered users of Share-Net International are able to link directly to each other through the online platform of Share-Net International in terms of country, areas of interest and expertise. The online community engages with the themes, posting and discussing relevant research, sharing experiences and advising on messages and improvements for policy and practice.

Meetings, discussions, (de)-briefings

Share-Net organises a diverse range of meetings. For example, large thematic meetings which occur 4 times a year, based on one of the core themes, attract around 60-80 people. But also smaller ones to discuss a certain topic, have interesting presentations or give (de)-briefings of global happenings. Meetings are also organized when a new research or report comes out.

Furthermore, we coordinate with other activities planned or initiated by members in the Netherlands. Also, we will monitor and attend relevant international conferences and discussion forums and report back to the members by debriefing meetings and/or reports which will be published on the website.

Newsletters

Quarterly Share-Net International and Bi-weekly Share-Net Netherlands newsletters, distributed to over 900 subscribers, update on progress and highlight latest news, publications and events in the field of SRHR and HIV/AIDS.

Secretariat

The Secretariat coordinates and facilitates the implementation of activities. It is held accountable for the delivery of outputs and meeting requirements for complete and timely reporting.

About this knowledge platform

Share-Net International, the name of the Knowledge Platform on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), aims to contribute to the SRHR agenda by improving knowledge in this area. The key vision of the agenda is that people should be able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the freedom to decide how many children they want and with whom, and access to good-quality care to meet their sexual and reproductive health needs.